Two handbills issued by the Massachusetts Branch of the Woman's Peace Party

[Boston]: [Woman's Peace Party], 1917. Two handbills issuing statements by the Massachusetts branch of the Woman’s Peace Party urging the U.S. government to stay out of military conflict on the European continent (WWI) and in Mexico.

The earliest handbill was likely published ca. 1916 after Pancho Villa tried to goad the U.S. into invading Mexico. The Woman’s Peace Party maintains that further conflict with Mexico would lead to “untold loss of life and property which would result from an inglorious war of the strong and rich against the weak and poor, and which would debase our national honor and reputation among the nations of the world.”

The second handbill was issued at the beginning of 1917 and states the group’s official statement supporting President Woodrow Wilson’s attempt to keep the U.S. out of WWI: “We feel that we should support the President in his wise efforts to promote International Peace,” while “urg[ing] that in no event whatever should we go further than to carry out a simple American policy of protecting our own vessels on the high seas.” “We renew our statement of faith that war is no permanent solution for the settlement of International disputes.” Less than two months after their handbill was issued Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war against Germany.

The Woman’s Peace Party was a national feminist and pacifist organization founded in January 1915 to oppose WWI. It became the American section of the International Committee of Women for Permanent Peace, which later became the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.

Both offset printed, 9” x 6”; 8 ½” x 5”. Light edge wear, one of the handbills has a tiny closed tear. Item #11514

Price: $250.00